Method for indicating detonation of explosive charges



Patented Sept. 30, 1930 m sr'r wAnRnnF. :BLEECKEB, or BoiiLnE'a, oononano, VASSIGNOE, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

7 T0 WILLIAM J. center, or TULSA, OKLAHOMA METHOD FOR INDICATING DETDNATION OF EXPLOSIVE CHARGES No Drawing. Application filed. February This invention-relates to a method for indicating exteriorly of an oil well or other similar excavation the operation. and condition of a charge ofexplosive within the same. It is a well known fact that in shooting oil wells with nitroglycerineor other high explosive, there is always a question of doubt as to Whether or not the charge is exploded in the proper manner and at theproper time, owing to the absence of reliable phenomena at the outside of the excavation and that in consequence there isthe ever present possibility of there being a retarded or incomplete explosion With the attendant danger to the'operatives who, inthe belief that the explosion hastaken place, proceed with the work of cleaning out the well.

Aside from the personal risks" attendant with the lack of knowledge of the true conof the well, there are also to be considered the loss of time and possible destruction of valuable equipment, when in the event of failure of detonation orincomplete combustion of the explosive charge,'its detonation is later effected by contact of tools lowered into the well for excavation purposes.

At present there is, to the best of my knowledge, no reliable means for ascertaining the true condition ofa shot at the bottom of the well. The sound of the explosion, i f at all discernible to those-on the surface, cannot be depended on to indicate detonation or the condition of the charge, for, particularly in-de'ep'wells, the explosion can often not be heard with any and any'function or disturbance that may occur at the surface is seldon proportionate to the size of the charge, A small shot may cause aloud noise ora'big flow of oil and gas, while a larger charge may make little or no sound and cause but little vibration or other indication by which its detonation maybe is'recognized. f

Measurements resorted to to ascertain the condition of a shot at'the bottom of a well are likewise.unreliable because th e well may be caved'or bridged 'so as to destroy the only available means of indicating by computadition of the explosive in the bottom portion 7 degree of distinctness if at all,

9,1926. Serial No. 87,176.

tion whether or not the shot was completely or even partially exploded.

In view of the above related facts, the value and merits of a reliable, unfailing method of automatically indicating. at the surface of the ground the true condition of an explosive charge in the bottom portion of a Well will be readily appreciated.

T he object is attained in a simple and ellicient manner by the present invention which,

briefly, consists in providing in association with a charge of explosivelowered ina well, an element lwhlch aresult ofthe explosion creates a condition at the surface readily de tectable either directly or indirectly by the human sensory organs. J

Certain 'combinations of chemicals, for example, of a kind not normally present in the well, will by the concussion or by the heat or-by the flame ofthe explosion, be detonated, ignited orso changed as to release vapors, fumes or matter in gaseous suspension which may find theirway to the outlet oft-he Well in quantities of such appreciable magnitude as to be discernible either directly by the human sense organs or indirectly by physical or chemical means. 7 p

One form of my invention, perhaps preferable byreason of its simplicity and effectuality, consists in the provision of chemicals or combinations of the action of heat give rise to fumes or vapors which produce fog-like clouds occupying volumes many times greater than the solid or liquid substances from which they orig nated and which upon emergence from' the well are readily seen and. give unmistakable evidence that the explosion has occurred.

chemicals whichby Other chemicals in like manner createodors V which are detectable in great dilution by the organs of smell, and still other chemicals give rise to fumes which can be detected in. very minute quantities by physical or chemical means and recognized indirectly by the human sensory orga is. Amongthe agents last,

referred to may be mentioned radio active elements which in great dilution are recognizable by means of an electroscope, vaporized or atomized chlor des which can be detected by contact with solutions of silver; 7

vaporized or atomized sulfate recognizable by contact with solutions of barium; acids which. are detected by coming in contact with blue litmus; alkalis, the presence of which may be determined by contact with red litmus, etc.

Among the useful compounds directly detectable by sight or smellor both sight and smell are chloride of. iron, chloride of zinc, chloride of manganese and chloride of tung sten. It is not essential that the metals be PI'OTiUC-(l and used as a chloride since certain chemicals either singly or in inter-mixture with others will produce chlorides by the ac tion of heat. For example, a mixture of cal cium chloride and iron tungstate when heated to one thousand degrees Fahrenheit or more, will produce the black vapors of iron and tungsten chlorides. In short any chemical agent capable of producing the desired result may be used by itself or in intermixture with other different agents, with variable results as to the nature of the vapors created upon explosion of the char 'elow fusible salts of inorganic base metals and particularly chlorides being preferable for the reason that they are easily vaporized.

In practice, the chemicals in a sealed or otherwise inert quantity, are lowered into the well in connection with the main explosive charge and in such a manner that the ex alosion will release or otherwise activate the same. The released or activated chemical will find its way to the outlet of the well either intermixed with the gases resulting from the explosion of the charge or the natural gases issuing from the well or both.

The chemicals may be used in any quantity calculated to produce the desired result, it being desirable to allow for slight absorption by any fluid, oil or water, that may be present in the well. 7

In ordinary practice, about five pounds more or less. of a mixture of iron chloride and zinc chloride placed in a soldered or otherwise sealed can or shell will produce satisfactory results. The chemical is not released until by the explosion of the charge with which it is connected, its container is shattered when the freedchemicals are vaporized by the heat resulting from the explosion and the released vapors pass upwardly beyond the mouth of the well as hereinbefore explained, where they are readily detect-ed both by their odor and app iarance.

Or if an alkali such as ordinary lye or sodium hydroxide is used, the resulting vapors issuing from the well may be aspirated by means of suitable apparatus and the presence of the alkali detected in many ways.

A factor greatly contributing to the success of my invention is the intense heat generated in the wellbythe explosion of a charge usually containing from five to a hundred pounds of nitroglycerine within a restricted space.

By reason of this intense heat, the use of an inorganic compound for the purpose of my invention is recommended since any chemical change affecting the oil present in the well by the high temperature conditions, will have no effect upon the chemicals other than to perhaps form a different compound or combination of compounds, the fumes or vapors of which are readily discernible as before.

Vi hile I have mentioned certain chemicals of proven value for the purposes ofthe present invention, 1 do not desire to be limited to their use. 'Anychemical adapted to produce by heat, concussion, or chemical combination readily discernible fumes or vapors, may be employed within the spirit of the invention, it being appai ent that the chemical must be of a character not capable of being destroyed or changed by the conditions of theexplosion so thatits properties will be obliterated, and of a nature different from any chemical substances that may be naturally present in the well.

It is further observed that the heat necessary to vaporize the chemical need not be supplied by or in the chemical mixture itself unless the reaction is exothermic and the detonation or ignition is effected by the concussion of theexplosion, there being always the heat of the explosion that can be relied on to effect any chemical change required for the purpose. It is therefore possible to use under all conditions, a chemical charge of such nature as to. give a maximumefficiency per unit ofvolume.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a signaling device for oil wells, the

combination of a well having a natural efiiuent issuing therefrom, explosive and ignition means in the well, and an inorganic chemical compound adapted to produce by the explosion detectable gases capable of mixing with the natural effluent and thereby be carried to the mouth of the well in a discernible condi tion.

2. In a signaling device for oil wells, the combination of a well having a natural effluent issuing therefrom, explosive and ignition means in the well, and a volatilizable salt of a base metal adapted to produce by the explosion detectable gases capable of mixing with the natural efiiuent and thereby be carried to the mouth of the well in a discernible condition.

3. In a signaling device for oil wells, the combination of a well having a natural effluent issuing therefrom, explosive and ignition means in the well, and a metallic chloride adapted to produce by the explosion detect-- able gases capable of mixing with the natural efliuent and thereby be carried to the mouth of the well in a discernible condition.

4. In a signaling device for oil Wells, the combination of a well having a natural etfluent issuing therefrom, explosive and ignition means in the Well, and an element'adapted to produce by the explosion indicative means that differ from the gases of the explosion V and are capable of mixing with the natural eflluent and thereby be carried to the mouth of the Well in a discernible condition.

9 5. In a signaling device for oil Wells, the

combination of a Well having a natural eflEluent issuing therefrom, explosive and ignition means in the Well, and an element adapted to produce by the explosion indicative means 5 that differ from gases naturally present in the well and are capable of mixing with the natural efiluent and thereby be carried to the mouth of the Well in a discernible condition.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto atto fixed my signature.

WARREN F. BLEECKER. I 

